China's Sichuan food week launched in Kathmandu

The Sichuan Food Culture Week, one of the popular dishes among the Nepalese people, was launched in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu.

Addressing the opening ceremony Wednesday night, Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister Mahara said, “This event is a good opportunity for the Nepalese people to taste the Sichuan food.”

Mahara expressed satisfaction over the cordial ties between Nepal and China, saying that the two neighbors are linked by geography, culture and tradition for years.

He believed that the Sichuan Food Culture Week will help to enhance bilateral ties between the two countries.

Highlighting China-Nepal relations, Zhu Hexin, deputy governor of Sichuan provincial government, said Sichuan is playing a key role in promoting bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Nepal used to serve as an important route for Sichuan province of China to conduct trade of silk, salt and tea towards South Asian countries in the past,” he said, adding that the bilateral relations have increased in various fields such as high-level exchange of visits, agriculture, culture and education among others over the years.

The deputy governor recalled that Sichuan was the first among the provinces of China to dispatch medical teams to Nepal after a devastating earthquake jolted Nepal in April 2015.

On the occasion, Chinese Ambassador Yu Hong talked about the visit of Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China for the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference.

The ambassador noted China has pledged to deepen mutual political trust between the two countries.

“The two countries have agreed to jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative during the visit of the prime minister,” she said adding that the two sides discussed wide-ranging issues aimed at enhancing cooperation on post-earthquake reconstruction of Nepal, agriculture, cultural exchanges, connectivity and trade among others.

The event was jointly organized by the Sichuan provincial government of China and the Chinese Embassy.